If May 15 law levy fails --patrol deputies go poof

Without federal O&C funding, no patrol deputies will be employed by Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), said Sheriff Gil Gilbertson.

If the May 15 public safety levy fails, JCSO staffing will be reduced from 88 to 40. “This is more than a 50 percent cut,” said Gilbertson, “and will necessitate elimination of all patrol deputy positions.

“Jail staffing also will be reduced, and I anticipate an inmate reduction of 50 percent and the release of 70 inmates. The jail will house 30 local prisoners, and 30 to 40 U.S. Marshal and Immigration prisoners, which brings in $500,000 in revenue,” the sheriff said.

He added that budget discussions are continuing, but that “at this time we do not anticipate any additional funding. We are continuing to control costs.”

For the May 15 levy election, the ballot will have Measure 17-19: “Three Year Local Option Tax For Criminal Justice System Operations.”

The measure will pass only with at least a 50 percent turnout of voters.

The ballot question: “Should Josephine County impose $2.496 of assessed value for criminal justice system operations for three years beginning 2007-2008? The measure may cause property taxes to increase more than 3 percent.”

The county would use the revenue to provide funding for three years for the sheriff’s office, Juvenile Justice Division, and the district attorney’s office. The funding is necessitated by the loss of federal funding historically derived from O&C timberland.

“Without the revenue provided by this measure, Josephine County would reduce the number of sheriff’s deputies; close the juvenile shelter facility; and reduce staffing levels in the district attorney’s office,” the ballot measure notes. It adds that:

“It is estimated that the proposed rate will raise approximately $13,481,000 in fiscal 2007-08; $14,263,000 in fiscal year 2008-09; and $14,904,000 in fiscal year 2009-10, for a total of $42,648,000.

“The approximate tax increase for a home with an assessed value of $125,000 would be $312 per year, or approximately $26 per month. The revenue from this measure would be used for criminal justice system operations only.”